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The Maroon fgxnvh VOL. 82, NO. 13 nhgf MAROON.LOYNO.EDU Athletic scholarships generate controversy Faculty express dismay at Byron's decision; basketball teams hopeful By Gene Guillot Sports Editor Exercising his presidential fiscal control over athletics, Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., has allocated six athletic scholarships to the basketball program for the 2004 -05 academic year. The six scholarships, which will pay for the athletes' full tuition, are divided equally between the women and men's teams. "We thought it was needed," Byron said. "They will improve the quality of basketball, and it's something the students wanted. Every team we play gives scholarships. We ought to do what we can to stay competitive." A presidential ad hoc committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of the scholarships and to decide whether to expand the scholarship program in the future. One detail to be worked out by the committee is whether the room and board of the scholarship athletes will be covered by the scholarships. Deborah Stieffel, Dean of Admissions, said that she will decide when the committee will meet for the first time. Peter Burns, political science assistant professor, will be the chairman. Byron said that he doesn't believe that the athletic scholarships will expand beyond this stage. Women's basketball coach Doßee Plaisance said that the academic prowess of the university would not decline due to these scholarships. "Athletes still have to meet Loyola admissions requirements," Plaisance said. "We will still be getting top students who will also be participating in athletics." Byron said that for recruits to receive the athletic scholarships, they must have a 3.0 grade point average in high school and a 24 on the ACT. Byron also said that the scholarships will help to "racially integrate the teams." Several members of the faculty expressed their disapproval at the University Senate meeting Jan. 15 that they were not consulted on such a major decision. STAFF PHOTO BY PAMELA HOWARD Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., addresses faculty members' concerns about athletic scholarships at a University Senate meeting in the library Thursday, Jan. 15. He said that the scholarships could help to racially integrate the basketball teams. STEPPIN' OUT STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES Alpha Kappa Alphas Michelle Moore, communications sophomore, Taniecea Arceneaux, mathematics junior, and Troave Profice, communications sophomore perform some of their steps at the Alphi Phi Alpha Coming Out Show. Campus changes surprise and annoy Fence prevents walking through Monroe quad; VPs get reserved parking By Naomi King Contributing writer On Jan. 12, Loyola students returned to class from winter break and found several surprising changes to the university's campus. One of the most apparent changes to the campus, according to students, has been the installation of a metal picket fence between Monroe and the old library. Caryn Winters, political science and communications studies senior, stated that the purpose of the fence is purely aesthetic: to keep students off the field and help the trampled grass grow back. However, some students are not happy about the change, especially those seen hopping the fence on the way to class. Some students also say they worry about being late for class or going around the fence in the rain. Others say they just don't think it has any visual appeal. Domestic partners denied benefits By Joe Rosemeyer News Editor Byron cites universitys Catholic affiliation in response to petitioners The university's benefits packages do not extend to same-sex partners, Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., said last Friday in response to an Internet-based petition that questioned such a stance. The petition started when Ecoee Rooney, a Loyola graduate student, requested that her female partner be given a student family membership to the Recreational Sports Complex. After the entire application process, Rooney's partner was denied the student family membership. Rooney eventually wrote an email message expressing her disappointment to Vice President of Student Affairs James Eiseman, and received a response that said Loyola only offers benefits to married couples "as defined by the Church and by the laws of the State of Louisiana." Another Jesuit institution, Loyola University of Chicago extends its benefits "He is an extremely respectable man who is doing what he feels is right. But he needs to realize that gay people aren't going anywhere." — NICK NEVARES, WORLD RELIGIONS SENIOR AND ETCETERA CO-PRESIDENT, on Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., and his decision not to extend Loyola's benefits packages to domestic partners. to same-sex partners, as does the City of New Orleans. When word of Rooney's situation reached Loyola graduate Richard Clayton he and English senior Stephanie Margherio, Loyola's Amnesty International secretary, worked together to develop a Web site through JustNewOrleans.com to petition administrators on Rooney's behalf. The petition says that "Loyola University New Orleans is currently imposing a discriminatory policy by only allowing membership in the Recreational Sports Complex to those domestic partners of members in the university community in heterosexual unions while denying membership to domestic partners of those in the university community in homosexual unions." Loyola's official policy on discrimination is that the school "has fully supported and fostered in its educational programs, admissions, employment practices and in the activities it operates the policy of not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender or sexual orientation." See SCHOLARSHIPS, Page 3 See BENEFITS, Page 2 See FENCE, Page 3 Sports ml Women set school record with nine straight wins, page 5 Opinion Bush's new plan for America, page 6 Loyola's opera singers take on Mozart's "Magic Flute," page 9 NOBfflC | Bur Mr Extra Web content available at maroon, loyno. edu what's Inside campus calendar 2 loyola briefs 2 sports 4 letters 6 opinion columns 7 life & times 9 TODAY'S FORECAST partly cloudy high 59 low 50 For more weather, see page 2

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The Maroon fgxnvh VOL. 82, NO. 13 nhgf MAROON.LOYNO.EDU Athletic scholarships generate controversy Faculty express dismay at Byron's decision; basketball teams hopeful By Gene Guillot Sports Editor Exercising his presidential fiscal control over athletics, Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., has allocated six athletic scholarships to the basketball program for the 2004 -05 academic year. The six scholarships, which will pay for the athletes' full tuition, are divided equally between the women and men's teams. "We thought it was needed," Byron said. "They will improve the quality of basketball, and it's something the students wanted. Every team we play gives scholarships. We ought to do what we can to stay competitive." A presidential ad hoc committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of the scholarships and to decide whether to expand the scholarship program in the future. One detail to be worked out by the committee is whether the room and board of the scholarship athletes will be covered by the scholarships. Deborah Stieffel, Dean of Admissions, said that she will decide when the committee will meet for the first time. Peter Burns, political science assistant professor, will be the chairman. Byron said that he doesn't believe that the athletic scholarships will expand beyond this stage. Women's basketball coach Doßee Plaisance said that the academic prowess of the university would not decline due to these scholarships. "Athletes still have to meet Loyola admissions requirements," Plaisance said. "We will still be getting top students who will also be participating in athletics." Byron said that for recruits to receive the athletic scholarships, they must have a 3.0 grade point average in high school and a 24 on the ACT. Byron also said that the scholarships will help to "racially integrate the teams." Several members of the faculty expressed their disapproval at the University Senate meeting Jan. 15 that they were not consulted on such a major decision. STAFF PHOTO BY PAMELA HOWARD Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., addresses faculty members' concerns about athletic scholarships at a University Senate meeting in the library Thursday, Jan. 15. He said that the scholarships could help to racially integrate the basketball teams. STEPPIN' OUT STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES Alpha Kappa Alphas Michelle Moore, communications sophomore, Taniecea Arceneaux, mathematics junior, and Troave Profice, communications sophomore perform some of their steps at the Alphi Phi Alpha Coming Out Show. Campus changes surprise and annoy Fence prevents walking through Monroe quad; VPs get reserved parking By Naomi King Contributing writer On Jan. 12, Loyola students returned to class from winter break and found several surprising changes to the university's campus. One of the most apparent changes to the campus, according to students, has been the installation of a metal picket fence between Monroe and the old library. Caryn Winters, political science and communications studies senior, stated that the purpose of the fence is purely aesthetic: to keep students off the field and help the trampled grass grow back. However, some students are not happy about the change, especially those seen hopping the fence on the way to class. Some students also say they worry about being late for class or going around the fence in the rain. Others say they just don't think it has any visual appeal. Domestic partners denied benefits By Joe Rosemeyer News Editor Byron cites universitys Catholic affiliation in response to petitioners The university's benefits packages do not extend to same-sex partners, Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., said last Friday in response to an Internet-based petition that questioned such a stance. The petition started when Ecoee Rooney, a Loyola graduate student, requested that her female partner be given a student family membership to the Recreational Sports Complex. After the entire application process, Rooney's partner was denied the student family membership. Rooney eventually wrote an email message expressing her disappointment to Vice President of Student Affairs James Eiseman, and received a response that said Loyola only offers benefits to married couples "as defined by the Church and by the laws of the State of Louisiana." Another Jesuit institution, Loyola University of Chicago extends its benefits "He is an extremely respectable man who is doing what he feels is right. But he needs to realize that gay people aren't going anywhere." — NICK NEVARES, WORLD RELIGIONS SENIOR AND ETCETERA CO-PRESIDENT, on Interim University President the Rev. William Byron, S.J., and his decision not to extend Loyola's benefits packages to domestic partners. to same-sex partners, as does the City of New Orleans. When word of Rooney's situation reached Loyola graduate Richard Clayton he and English senior Stephanie Margherio, Loyola's Amnesty International secretary, worked together to develop a Web site through JustNewOrleans.com to petition administrators on Rooney's behalf. The petition says that "Loyola University New Orleans is currently imposing a discriminatory policy by only allowing membership in the Recreational Sports Complex to those domestic partners of members in the university community in heterosexual unions while denying membership to domestic partners of those in the university community in homosexual unions." Loyola's official policy on discrimination is that the school "has fully supported and fostered in its educational programs, admissions, employment practices and in the activities it operates the policy of not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender or sexual orientation." See SCHOLARSHIPS, Page 3 See BENEFITS, Page 2 See FENCE, Page 3 Sports ml Women set school record with nine straight wins, page 5 Opinion Bush's new plan for America, page 6 Loyola's opera singers take on Mozart's "Magic Flute," page 9 NOBfflC | Bur Mr Extra Web content available at maroon, loyno. edu what's Inside campus calendar 2 loyola briefs 2 sports 4 letters 6 opinion columns 7 life & times 9 TODAY'S FORECAST partly cloudy high 59 low 50 For more weather, see page 2